Meet Stephanie Miller of The Scenic Suitcase in Northwest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Miller.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A number of years ago, I was bitten by the travel bug. And by bitten, I mean completely devoured. I fell in love with everything about it – the challenge of the unknown, meeting new people, exploring new cities, countries, and cultures. I simply couldn’t get enough.

So much like everything else in life, I dove into my new obsession with reckless abandon. I hoarded vacation days for exotic getaways, I saved every penny for flights and hotels, and I never turned down the opportunity for another adventure. And because people started using me as a resource for their own travels, a friend soon suggested I start a blog to help share my advice with the masses.

A blog? Seriously?

I didn’t know the first thing about technology (or what a blog even was, for that matter). But after some digging, I learned it was actually kinda perfect – photography, graphic design, writing, travel, travel, travel… it was all my favorite things rolled into one!

And so, The Scenic Suitcase was born.

Since then, my website has opened me up to opportunities I never dreamed were possible! I’ve met influential people I never thought I’d share a room with let alone a cocktail (The Blonde Abroad, Nomadic Matt, the founder of Lonely Planet, and the authors of Wild, The Year of Living Danishly, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck, just to name a few). I’ve been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Readers Digest, Nerdwallet, The Washington Post, The Telegraph, Credit Karma, and National Geographic (a total dream come true!) And I’ve had bucket list experiences that have enriched my life beyond measure – cage diving with great white sharks, getting up close and personal with wildlife on an African safari, climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, snorkeling between the tectonic plates of two different continents, eating lunch in the Eiffel Tower… and this year, I’m traveling to all 7 continents in one year (goals!)

It’s been an incredible adventure that I’m beyond grateful for. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s that nothing worth having is easy, strangers are only a conversation away from becoming friends, to build your limited time around what sets your soul on fire, and to live your life ON PURPOSE.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a brand and everything that goes along with it is anything but easy! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to throw my hands in the air and just give up. A simple coding error crashing my site, putting my heart and soul into a piece that no one bothers reading, doing all the right things and not seeing results, and toiling away (forgoing sleep, food, and weekend fun) for payment in pennies.

It’s been endlessly frustrating.

But with the lows also come the highs. Having one of my photos featured multiple times by National Geographic (out of millions of others!), receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a thank you from my favorite discount travel provider, and, most of all, having strangers tell me my advice inspired them to see more of this beautiful world we live in.

As I said, nothing worth having is easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it. And for all the times I’ve wanted to give up, there’ve been many more that I’ve been grateful I didn’t.

So, no matter what it is you want out of life, remember that what you have to say matters. You’re a special, unique, firework of a human being. Don’t ever give up on your dreams!

Please tell us about The Scenic Suitcase.
My travel brand, The Scenic Suitcase, helps people travel like experts while experiencing the world like locals. I help my readers know where to go, how to get there, what to see, where to eat, and how to capture it all in beautifully curated photographs.

It’s a one-stop-shop for anyone needing travel or photography advice!

As a company, it’s always exciting to be featured by a well-known publication or have another article rank as the #1 search result on Google. But I’m most proud of the way my site has helped people travel better. Whether that means knowing how to effectively pack so they never have to check their luggage again, or helping them realize they really can take that trip of a lifetime. Making the world just a little smaller and more accessible is why I started The Scenic Suitcase in the first place, and hearing people say that’s what it’s done for them is always rewarding.

Personally, I’m extremely thankful for the knowledge I’ve gained, the experiences I’ve had, and (most importantly), the friendships I’ve developed as a result of this venture.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy, so growing up I loved outdoor adventures. Floating the Madison River in Montana, exploring the woods in Pennsylvania, catching tidepool critters in California, rock climbing in Colorado…

But one of my favorite memories was when my dad and I spent an afternoon fishing in Yellowstone National Park. We hiked down the dangerously steep mountainside to the river bottom just past Yellowstone’s Lower Falls. Looking back, I’m still shocked I managed to make it down without falling to my death. Was my dad even remotely concerned my little feet might slip? Nope. He practically ran down like a mountain goat, leaving me in his (literal) dust.

Once I finally caught up, we walked beside the riverbank, catching fish along the way. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky (or another person for miles). Just me, my dad, and the rugged beauty of our nation’s first national park.

For lunch, we found a geothermal hot spring and my dad proceeded to cook our catch in its boiling water. Sound rugged? The tinfoil and lemon pepper he packed along would beg to differ. And having never eaten fish before, it was a memorable way to enjoy some extremely fresh trout.

Pricing: 

• use the coupon code ‘voyage’ to receive a 20% discount off anything in The Scenic Suitcase Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheScenicSuitcase

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ScenicSuitcase.com
• Email: thescenicsuitcase@gmail.com

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.